You just walk on by

This is probably my favourite birthday photo, taken at brunch on Sunday morning.

As i sit here, typing as a 24 year old, i am reminded of a poem by Lucille Clifton i read a while back:

i am running into a new year
and the old years blow back
like a wind
that i catch in my hair
like strong fingers like
all my old promises and
it will be hard to let go
of what i said to myself
about myself
when i was sixteen and
twentysix and thirtysix
even thirtysix but
i am running into a new year
and i beg what i love and
i leave to forgive me

The old years blow back like the wind.